Temporary Procurement Officer at Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

The Role:

• Reporting to the Head - Procurement, the Procurement Officer will be responsible for overseeing all routine/operational procurement activities including overseeing the implementation of framework agreements. He/she shall ensure that procurement is undertaken as per laid down policies, rules, and regulations while enforcing transparency and accountability in the procurement process to ensure value for money. The ideal candidate will be in charge of strategic/complex procurements for specific User Units. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure procurement best practices are followed using the detailed guidelines provided in AGRA’s Procurement Policy and Procedures Manual. 
• Coordinate procurements and ensure that the teams are adequately trained, vendors prequalified, and overall compliance with the procurement policy and procedures manual. 
• Assist the Head of Procurement in ensuring that the annual procurement plan is followed, including quarterly meetings with the Program Heads and Operations Heads to update the plan. 
• Review procurement requests and initiate procurement procedures for office and project equipment, supplies, and services in a transparent and cost-effective manner. 
• Review and publish invitations to pre-qualify, pre-qualification documents, invitations to express interest, request for proposal (RFP) incorporating terms of reference (TOR) or request for quotation (RFQ), Statement of works, etc. 
• Receive and safeguard applications to pre-qualify, expressions of interest, proposals, and quotations. 
• Provide oversight and guidance in technical and financial evaluations. 
• Conduct negotiations or recommend a negotiating team where applicable and negotiate contractual agreements with suppliers to ensure that service, added value, and lowest total cost while ensuring quality is not compromised. 
• Sensitize staff regularly on the procurement process through regular updates and staff training.
• Enforce the procurement and contracting process and make follow-up on what’s due.
• Continuously develop and manage supplier relationships to deliver breakthrough performance in cost, service, and quality.
• Obtain quotes and compile comparable prices to facilitate the determination of future purchases.
• Participate in bid opening(s) and proposal(s) reviews.
• Contribute to success stories or other communications that seek to highlight the positive impact of AGRA’s procurement operations.

Key Qualifications and Experience Required:

• At least 10 years of procurement experience, with 5 years of experience at the officer level preferably in a multi-program International NGO.
• Knowledge and experience of donor and government(s) procurement processes and procedures.
• Demonstrate experience and knowledge in procurement of consultancy services.
• Experience in the use of ERP systems such as Oracle SCM system and other ICT applications including Excel.
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management from a reputable institution or any other degree with additional qualification in public procurement.
• Membership to a professional procurement association.
• Certification from Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply or a near equivalent from firms such as the Institute for Supply Management, American Purchasing Society, International Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Institute, The International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management and others is an added advantage
• Team player with strong leadership skills.
• Solid operational management and general business skills. 
• Working knowledge of finance and/or accounting in terms of budgeting, cost management, financial accounting, treasury, risk management, etc.
• Industry knowledge in terms of broad industry dynamics on the buy-side (and the sell-side), but also the internal knowledge and “language of the business”.
• Excellent communication, listening skills that allows you to get the “voice of the internal customer” and to understand the company culture and how to best communicate procurement’s value to it.
• Ability to “sell” procurement’s value and to run procurement as a services business like any other well-run professional services business.
• In-depth knowledge of sourcing and procurement principles and best practices.
• Strong negotiation skills to use for large commercial deals.
• Experience with modern sourcing and procurement systems.
• Familiarity with relevant legislative and regulatory requirements, as well as an understanding of standard contractual terms and conditions to mitigate legal risk.
• Strategic mindset and problem-solving skills.
• Change management skills and self-awareness to take varying approaches with a dynamic set of stakeholders (e.g., expert model vs. facilitative model).
• Knowledge of enterprise risk management and business continuity planning.
• Analytical mindset, but also creativity to seek, encourage, and find non-traditional approaches that have historically “boxed-in” procurement.